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The Democrats' Joe Wilson?
Evan Vucci / AP Photo
Alan Grayson’s anti-GOP rant on health care made the Florida congressman a liberal hero—and the right’s favorite new whipping boy. Is this a ticket to stardom—or political suicide?
Is Alan Grayson the Democrats' Joe Wilson? After stirring up a media firestorm with his statement on the House floor that Republicans want sick people to “die quickly,” Rep. Grayson drew frequent comparisons to the South Carolina legislator who shouted “You lie!” at President Obama.
Like Wilson, Grayson became an overnight sensation—an instant hero to his party’s base, and Public Enemy No. 1 to the opposition. Unlike Wilson, however, Grayson offers no apologies. In fact, he's gone on a media blitz since his initial speech to amplify his incendiary arguments. He returned to the House floor to denounce the estimated 45,000 annual deaths due to lack of insurance in America as a “holocaust.” On CNN, he called Republican lawmakers “knuckle-dragging neanderthals" who “should apologize to America.”
The NRCC recently launched an entire Web site devoted to attacking Grayson, while Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer labeled him “the laughing stock of the House of Representatives.”
There’s no reason to back down, Grayson says, because he’s right—and the right’s wrong. “There's a fundamental difference: They're lying about our bill and we’re telling the truth,” Grayson said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast. “There is no moral equivalence between truth and lies.” So much for the post-partisan era.
• Michelle Goldberg: Is Obamacare Pro-Life?But Grayson differs significantly from Wilson in one key respect. The South Carolina Republican is in what has, at least until now, been fairly solid GOP terrain. Grayson, on the other hand, won election last year by beating a four-term Republican, thanks in no small measure to Obama’s coattails. His district twice voted for George W. Bush for president. He’s a liberal in center-right territory—and Republicans are licking their chops at the prospect of making him a one-termer.
“Everyone wants to make these comparisons with Joe Wilson but Joe Wilson is in an incredibly Republican district,” a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, John Randall, told The Daily Beast. “[Grayson] may be able to bring in national money, but that money won’t convince people that don't agree with him.”
The NRCC recently launched an entire Web site devoted to attacking Grayson, www.alandisgrayson.com, while Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer labeled him “the laughing stock of the House of Representatives.”
“I'd be very surprised if Congressman Grayson wins reelection,” a Republican consultant based in Florida, Randy Nielsen, told The Daily Beast.
While he might look vulnerable on paper, Grayson does start the race for reelection in 2010 with one big advantage: He’s rich as Croesus. A defense lawyer who successfully sued defense contractors in Iraq on behalf of whistleblowers, he amassed a personal fortune of $31 million, making him one of the wealthiest members of Congress. His latest outburst will only fuel donations from liberals cheering him on. Thus far, anyway, his campaign war chest has helped scare off any big-name Republican challengers.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
mcmchugh99
About time they had a Democrat with some guts. They let themselves get punked by the Republicans all the time and put on the defensive.
They need a lot more Dems like Wilson, who will just come right out and say it, give 'em a dose of their own medicine. Stop being wimps for once, and play the Class Card on the Republicans, who really don't care about working class and middle class people who can't afford health care.
The Republicans attack all the time, and the Dems need to start doing the same.
ThinkAgain
Hmmm. You're suggesting republicans are what... rich? Like say Rockefeller and Kerry and Kennedy and Pelosi and Rangel and Dodd and... need I go on? You know your rich people who, having their own obscene wealth secured, feel the need to make themselves feel good by spending their time trying to force others to help the little people and berating them for not jumping at the chance.
EdinNJ
This is typical Republican b.s. Because rich Republicans are selfish d-bags that don't care about anyone unless is some little boy they want to diddle, they have to berate rich Democrats who feel that their fortune doesn't preclude them from trying to help others.
As for this article, what separates Grayson from Wilson, besides truth, is courage. Wilson knew that Republicans would make him a folk hero, because he's from a solid R district and because Republicans love their classless morons. Grayson, on the other hand, is from a R district also, and spoke out, truthfully, knowing full well the pusses on the R side would go into one of their girly hissy fits. That's political courage of the utmost. If you believe in something, like healthcare reform, like Grayson does, you don't worry about whether idiot Republicans are going to go all Glenn Beck and start crying over their hurt feelings. You mock them relentlessly and when healthcare reform passes, you let the chips fall where they may.
mcmchugh99
I think they should play the Class Card on the Republicans every chance they get. It's the only way to get through the Right-wing attack machine, as Grayson just did. He hit them where it really hurts, and the Dems need to be doing that every day.
ThinkAgain
Your summersaults and contortions to make the distinction reveals you to be nothing but a leftwingnut windup doll who's been programmed to attack the republicans even though they're not even the ones causing the problems you're having with healthcare reform.
Name calling and lying are not courageous acts. They're schoolyard bully tactics... no matter what SIDE you're on. Many people resort to that out of frustration on occassion but suggesting it's some great act of courage just makes you pathetic. If you can't win with your ideas, you're not really winning.
mcmchugh99
No fun getting a dose of your own medicine, is it, Think Again? The Dems have been accused of planning to kill Grandma, the handicapped, white people, veterans, and of being communists, Nazis,and everything else the Republicans dream up.
Now you want to have a reasonable discussion--a political science seminar where everyone just exchanges ideas? It's much too late for that.
reardongalt
"they have to berate rich Democrats who feel that their fortune doesn't preclude them from trying to help others"
A. You're so full of crap your eyes are turning brown and...
B. Who's stopping them? Help all you want. Knock your socks off. Hey you rich Dems can start a trust fund to help others. Let's see how that works out. My guess is all put together you'll come up with about $35 dollars. Not "million" dollars.....dollars.
You have no such inclination. You just want Republicans to do it.
diamondgirl
This guy did this to get the attenion, and he got it. Who cars what he said, it didnt work, no one believes him any way. Monday it will be all about somthing else. We have 10% unemployment who gives a crap about this guy. JOBS JOBS JOBS Mr. President . Its the ECONOMY STUPID! Some Porkulus Bill, so far its NOT WORKING!
gwizparks
"Name calling and lying are not courageous acts. They're schoolyard bully tactics... no matter what SIDE you're on. Many people resort to that out of frustration on occassion but suggesting it's some great act of courage just makes you pathetic. If you can't win with your ideas, you're not really winning. "
ThinkAgain ... are you talking about Tea-baggers, birthers, deathers, drill baby drill, 9/12ers, Beckers, OReily's, Hannity, Limbo ... just which one are we to look at???????
frontman9000
ThinkAgain....
Grayson also said that if loses his re-election because he helped pass health care reform then that "would be fine with him." His priorities are with the American people he serves and not saving his ass to hold on to a cushy congressional seat. How many of your republican reps would do the same?
frontman9000
99% of all elected representatives are filthy rich. Why? Because rich people have access to resources that those of modest means don't and they have the ambition. Not all rich people are heartless and self-serving. Many people, rich and poor are called to a higher purpose. What is your point?
DeeAmbro
Wah, wah, wah, the rich democrats are making the rich republicans cry! Pulease! What Grayson has done is give the republicans a dose of their own medicine. Republicans have been more and more vitriolic by the day (how low will they actually go, Grandma?) and when someone finally calls their bluff they act just like the schoolyard bully who slinks away and cries about people being mean to them. It's just amazing to me that after all the dung that's been slung at the democrats for the last 16 years, someone hasn't stood up before now. Good going Grayson, we've got your back so keep it up!
rosiebond007
Healthcare insurance costs are crippling companies who need to hire.
We MUST get those horrific costs in check - hiring will start up again and the economy will get a boost.
You need to read up on the WHOLE ECONOMIC picture - not just a little corner of it.
stjam8
I don't agree with the comparsion with Wilson. Wilson was lying when he yelled "you Lie"! There is plenty of other republicans who have stood there and talked about "Death Panels", so their outrage is hypocritical. The true death panels are called rescission. In the last 5 years, just 3 insurance companies have made $300 million dollars using rescuission. When an insurance company retroatively cancels coverage for policy holders based on alleged misstatements, sometimes after a disgnoses of life threating diseases. So Grayson statements were truthful, so of course the republicans are now calling him unstable. They are so used to lying. It's like the drunk,that someone dumped a bucket of ice water on to sober them up. The republicans want a apology. So everyone one them that talked about "Death Panels" and "pulling the pug on granny", we are waiting for your apology. Senator Grassely, do you want to start? Please we would like an apology for the fear mongering you did for political gains at expanse of real people dying every day while companies are making record profiits inspite of the poor economy. So this were we are as Americans, a politician speaks the truth and makes the 6 o'clock news. Thank you Mr. Grayson, You give us hope for the future.
DeeAmbro
Yes, there's actually a special place in hell for anyone who lies about death panels just to scare the bejesus out of seniors. Fake outrage on the republicans part. Sure, let them apologize first for all the lying and smearing they engage in 24/7, then we'll move on to something more productive. Yeah, right, I won't hold my breath.
r-c-jackman
Death Panels: We're talking about the Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Commission. The government will achieve cost reduction by "eliminating" high cost, low value treatments. The government will pick what treatments are cost effective for which patient. Without Tort Reform, what doctor would dare go against a CER "recommendation". It is anticipated that the Commission will adopt a Quality-Adjusted Life-Year (QALY) standard. Death to the old, the infirm, and the very young. And finally, the end-of-life advisors will help us to go quietly.
BullMoose
I remember during the 2000 election, the Repugs whining like sissies about an ad showing a shopping cart, with an elderly person being shoved downhill into a garbage bin.
Oh they weeped and wailed, but when Shrub stole the election, they proceded to do just what the ad insinuated would happen. The death toll of repugs policies, that have led to the deaths of 10's of thousands of poor uninsured Americans is the biggest disgrace of the last 100 years.
DeeAmbro
And don't forget 9/11, Iraq and Katrina. Lots of dead people thanks to the republican party.
Jinglebob
He is nothing but a Repubacist!
Ankhorite
You mean we need more Dems like GRAYSON, not Wilson -- Wilson is the Republican liar, Grayson is the Democrat straight-talker.
I agree with you. Dems and Independents will support leaders who show spine and guts, and a commitment to Democratic ideals, instead of these blue scumdogs who are in the pockets of insurance companies and corporate polluters.
KemCho
Can Grayson name those 45000 people who died because of lack of Health Care?
PRoche
A Democrat with cajones, how about that!
The POG had better hope this doesn't catch on or the Republi-con party will truely become a thing of the past.
amanda07070
Ah, if only.
rowland
Straight outta the Glenn Beck playbook. Nothing garners attention like manufacturing populist outrage.
Ritarita
OK.
Now listen
To what he's saying.
That's actually the important
Part.
r-c-jackman
An illegal immigrant would not be a citizen of any particular state. So, since the Health Insurance Exchanges are state bound, an immigrant would not qualify, unless we drop the verification language as has been suggested. But then the illegal could purchase across state lines. Perhaps we should expand the current Exchange concept to override the state limitations. That would increase competition and save money for everyone.
rosiebond007
Actually he is telling it like it is. We have had the Death Panels accusations from the Repubs but what you are not reading is that we ALREADY have Death Panels, the Insurance companies who deny care to those who are paid up and need it are already here and working.
ThinkAgain
It's wingnut desperation and frustration. That's why Wilson did what he did. That's why this nut is doing this. They get to the point where they figure they have nothing to lose.
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Yurdelitegwizparks
ThinkAgain ... what plan has the Repub provided? Where is the CBO report? What are the costs? Where are the ???? You get what I mean .... the repups offer nothing .... "Don't get sick!" If you do "Die quickly" The existing Insurance based health care plan has "death panels" let granma and everybody else die on a regular basis ... and your consern is WHAT?
r-c-jackman
What good is "affordable" assurance if no one can afford it? What good is universal medical care if there are no doctors? What good is medical diagnosis if corrective procedures are denied? What good is massive debt if the nation collapses? Let's hold out for real improvement! Increase the availability of free clinics. Enact tort reform. Allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. We don't need a thousand page bill that only lawyers can understand.
Ritarita
For anyone
Who hasn't seen Rep.Grayson's
Appearance on The Situation Room
Here it is-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H3gND4M9HA
The resistance from the CNN panel
Is something to behold-
Mr.Grayson chewed up the panel pleasantly
And without hesitation-
Even though he was tag-teamed interrupted
And outnumbered.
His clear conviction showed
That the truth is it's own
Defense.
periscope
If you can't get outraged at the current Republican Party and it's preference for private insurance company profits over the lives of uninsured people or customers who were denied treatment, then you're humanity is in question.
Rep. Grayson's depiction of Republican's depraved indifference to people denied insurance or denied treatment is only too tragically true.
More Democrats should tell the truth about the Republicans, and perhaps the American people would realize what a menace Republicans are to their health and welfare.
ThinkAgain
Whine whine whine Pass the damn thing!!! I know you dems can't add a trillion and a trillion but you can't even count your own folks?! YOU DON'T NEED REPUBLICAN VOTES. Every moron in the country knows that but you apparently. It's depraved stupidity.
periscope
That's not the point moron. The point is the Republicans have done nothing to help the American people's need for affordable healthcare, and they have done everything the private insurance companies want.
The Republicans as usual, want to give more U.S. taxpayer money to the private insurers, while the government has no control over how the private companies will use that money.
It's stupid, it's wasteful and it is detrimental to the welfare of the American people. But that's the mission of idiots like you and the Republican Party.
incognito-ergo-sum
ThinkAgain, so you are pretty much saying the Republicans to a person, want the current situation to continue. What's in it for them? Maybe campaign money, can't be money from the people.
BullMoose
A trillion dollar tax cut, followed by another trillion later, a trillion for Afghanistan's crooks, stolen by local and foreign contractors, and 2 trillion more for Pakistan and Iraq, all stolen like the Afghansitan crooks theft's of all of it.
Duh, that is 5 trillion Shrub pissed away for NOTHING.
neverlate
TDB has its hero! Just shows the hypocrisy. When it comes from the Right, it is brutish behavior, or even worse. When it comes from the Left, it is Medal of Honor material.
mcmchugh99
It's about time some Dems learned to throw a punch instead of just standing there like a punching bag month after month, and never fighting back.
AusLib
Yes, what they did was exactly the same. **shakes head**
BasPos
never, how would the party of the chickenhawks ever recognize heroism? The gDOp is the party of lies, theft, and dishonor. You never met a buck you didn't like. It's "I've got mine, you go to hell."
The gDOp has been throwing around DEATH for so long, they've forgotten what it means.
gak001
Rep. Wilson broke the rules of decorum; Rep. Grayson's comments, while arguably in poor taste, did not. Your comparison is invalid.
vgr400
Wilson and Grayson are both idiots. With his education background you would think he would be an intelligent one in that capitol bunch but no.
Plus Grayson looks like "Shrek" with those ugly brows going different directions - and has no style (what is that tie and coat combo in the picture).
BasPos
vg, he's smarter than twenty of the the gDOp. Also, he can speak the truth, which is something you can't. I'm still out $10,000 thanks to Reagan's tax cut made out of my family.
Why can't you guts ever see how you've been screwed by a samll bunch of people who cannot even support a legally elected president?
Bush was a mistake. Learn from your mistakes.
sippewissett
Can we stop commenting on how someone looks and start dealing with substance of what they say? Grayson scored some points with FACTS about the current state of health care and the kind of language he used is commonplace (though not laudable in the House). Witness Bachmann calling for supporters to slit their wrists in brotherhood to defeat health care reforn.
gak001
Ad hominem means your argument is weak.
lizabethivy
And You must look like Waxman when you peer into your mirror... Franken maybe? (Sorry to meet petty with petty, but that was hard to ignore)
WTF does his face or suit have to do with ANYTHING...???
The man is extraordinarliy intelligent and has demonstrated as such... I suppose your intellectual inferiority can't handle the truth??? What is your problem with his stance on the issue? (not his words, his stance)
Why don't we UNDRAW the line in the sand and all stand up for what's right for Americans???
Availability to affordable health CARE, NOT HEALTH INSURANCE, is what is called for here... that serves us ALL and shouldn't be denied to any citizen, wouldn't you agree?
gak001
I would and I do.
dirigo
Yo! Wilson does not represent Texas.
BasPos
No, the Texas delegation has terminal shubitis - stupidity mixed with cowardice.
dirigo
That's right. None of them can point and say two words at the same time.
Ozone69
I would think that a Harvard graduate would be more eoquent and dignified. This a US Congressman callin fellow members of Congress across the aisle "knuckle draggers and neanderthals?" Very statesman-like. This will blow up in the Democrats face if he continues this rhetoric. The President's poll #'s are tanking and I seriously doubt this will help win over any moderates of Independents. It's juvenile name calling.
sippewissett
Do you mean this seriously? Do you ever watch C-SPAN and catch Repugs regularly name-calling? The truth behind this mini-uproar is that the GOP is smarting from the embarassing "exposure" that Wilson's boneheaded move got. They want reciprocity so the Dems are embarassed too.
However it's hard to equate telling the president he's a liar in front of a TV audience of 40 MM people with Grayson's comment on the floor of the House where that language, and worse, is commonplace. Nice try, Repugs, but no-go.
gak001
Tanking? Is that a new definition meaning "higher than the previous two predecessors at the same point in their terms" or do you just not know what you're talking about?
incognito-ergo-sum
Sometimes you have to call 'em like you see 'em. I thought the presentation method was classic. It was meant to be seen by the sick, the uninsured and the elderly. And don't kid yourselves, it has been and will be.
My new hero.
gak001
Proper respect to you, good sir, for your learned and clever screen name!
gwizparks
And YOU would know!
ljblinddog
There is no comparison between Grayson and Wilson. The sub head is an insult to Grayson and the content of his message. His message was that over 40,000 Americans die a year who do not have health insurance, the Republicans have no plan and are blocking progress for to a solution for the American people. That should have been this article's headline. Grayson was recognized by the Chair of the House and he finished under his alloted time. His facts were straight and he made a metaphor. Wilson on the other hand was a boor and his comment was inaccurate. He turned out to be the liar.
Benjamin Sarlin is like so many columnists, treats this very serious topic, it's effect on our lives, health and economy like it is some kind of road side attraction, rather than at the essence of our survival-no better than FOX.
periscope
You have nailed the basic problem with most of the media in America that is not living in the alternate universe of right-wing derangement.
They always seem to compare the outrageous and often illegal acts of conservatives with the reasonable responses by liberals. Thus Keith Olbermann is "no better" than Bill O'Reilly, even though the former tells the truth, and the latter lies.
In the past year we have seen two Democrats tainted by sexual scandal: Spitzer and Edwards. Spitzer resigned his office and Edwards is finished politically. Yet the Republicans have Senators Vitter and Ensign and Governor Sanford, all engaging in sexual scandals (and possibly crimes), and yet none have resigned!
Why is it Dems have to resign for marital infidelity, while the "family values" Republicans get to keep their jobs??? The media doesn't seem interested.
ljblinddog
Repub/Dem double standard...I have a theory on that, especially in the South. Vitter and the Republicans stand for a veiled white supremecy that little by little is going away. They also stand for people making money off of our natural resources. Republcans are also good for business, the kind of businesses that do not want unions, evironmental and safety issues to cost them money. Now I realize that this is a very gross generalization, but in it there is some truth. Just look at legislation and thier suporters. ( I ust also point out that Obama has used the term "Clean Coal" unfortunately) I will also tell you that I managed the campaign of a Republican Woman for Mayor a number of years ago who was an outstanding candidate and has done such a find job in her community that she ran for a second term unopposed. I think she is the rare and sorely missed Republican of years ago. In the end, the doule standard exists because the Dems allow it. The Dems in my community are busy making T-shirts while the Republicans are running things. And so it goes.
stjam8
The reason is "Do as I say, Not as I do!" The republicans have 2 standards. They hold the democrats to a higher standard then themselves. The C streeters beleive that laws and morality does not aply to them, since they were hand picked by GOD to lead.
r-c-jackman
Unfortunately, there seems to be no distinction between the various suggested health care proposals. So when people say they are for reform, we don't know whether they are particularly favoring a Democratic plan or whether they are favoring some selection of the Republican alternatives. Most everyone is in favor of reform. But obviously we have to be careful of its affect on the national debt and whether there will be enough doctors to provide the care, whether there will be tort reform, whether there will be interstate competition, and whether the care will be actually improved or just rationed. It's all very important.
soporifix
Wilson yelled at the President during a joint session of Congress. That was the issue. This situation has zero to do with that one, except in the minds of cable-news "journalists" looking for an easy equation to jump onto.
gak001
Exactly. Rep. Wilson broke the rules of decorum; Rep. Grayson did not. It's a null comparison.
sojourner3
In the wilderness of American political culture, one man dares to speak the truth. Amazing! Paraphrasing Donald Rumsfeld's mentor, Winston Churchill, if the Democrats have no head, the Republicans have no heart. Grayson merely put this second part in language knuckle-dragging, lowlife, know-nothings like Think Again, and fellow-travelling Republican birthers, Limbaugh/Wilson/Boehner/Becks et al can understand. That hurts. Finally, a good hurt.
Ozone69
This insignificant representative is getting his 15 minutes of fame due to his demeaning and un-statesman like rhetoric of Republicans. If he is not reigned in, this will back fire on the Dems.
BasPos
Tit-for-tat politics seems the name of the game for now.
adlerman
Ozone69
You could use some ozone- you're one of the useless citizens that we have no use for. Suck on a hairspray can- that should help.
NicholasD
Ok, your logic is flawed and disingenuous. You say that he is similar to Joe Wilson because they both became overnight sensations, but they differ because Grayson didn't apologize. In other words, you think people should apologize for becoming overnight sensations. Nice.
But this is typical slander against Grayson. No Republican can argue with the substance of his words, only the delivery. (Unlike Wilson, who could be criticized for both, and whose delivery was much, much more puerile.) Grayson was 100% correct about what he said, and if his district is too dumb to re-elect him, he should move. But hopefully it won't come to that.
He is just what the Democrats need, and just what this country needs. Someone who tells the truth and isn't scared of what he correctly calls right-wing neanderthals.
Thank you.
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